Baretz+Brunelle Hires Prominent Communications Executives in Chicago and New York

CHICAGO and NEW YORK - April 28, 2021 – Baretz+Brunelle today announced the hiring of two accomplished communications veterans: Laura Gingiss, former head of business marketing communications for Deloitte Consulting LLP, and Wayne Kessler, who most recently led communications efforts at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP.

Gingiss joins the firm as senior managing director in Baretz+Brunelle’s Chicago office, and Kessler joins as managing director in its New York office. Both will play key roles leading the PR, marketing and business development efforts for Baretz+Brunelle’s world-class roster of legal industry clients.

Gingiss is a career communications executive, having spent more than two decades in leadership roles at several prominent global businesses and PR agencies. While at Deloitte Consulting, she managed communications initiatives for its U.S. operating units and led the leadership team’s efforts on its executive eminence program, aligning communications and PR strategies with broader business development goals. Previously, she served as director of PR and communications for Wolters Kluwer’s global tax and accounting division and in senior communications positions at Discover Financial Services, Sterling Talent Solutions, Ogilvy PR and Hill + Knowlton. She is a founding member of the Chicago chapter of Chief, a network built to drive more women into positions of power across industries and effect change from the top down. She is a cum laude graduate of Brandeis University.

Kessler is a veteran communications advisor with more than 25 years of experience in the legal industry. He has significant experience in global strategic communications, including media relations, executive communications (internal and external) and marketing messaging for leading law firms, service corporations and innovative technology companies. Before joining Baretz+Brunelle, Kessler helped lead Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP’s marketing and communications department. Previously, he managed the communications functions for three Am Law 100 firms (Paul Hastings LLP, Heller Ehrman LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop LLP) and oversaw global communications efforts for the American Arbitration Association. Kessler is a graduate of Ithaca College’s Roy H. Park School of Communications. He is also an avid musician and a voting member of the Recording Academy, which presents the Grammy Awards.

“Laura and Wayne are two of the industry’s most capable and talented communications professionals,” said Spencer Baretz, co-founder of Baretz+Brunelle. “I am confident they will add immediate value to our clients and play integral roles in B+B’s continued expansion.”

“While the past year has been challenging in many ways, we are actually seeing many law firms marketing more aggressively than ever,” Baretz+Brunelle co-founder Cari Brunelle said. “We’re excited to bring Laura and Wayne’s senior-level experience to our clients and to our rapidly expanding national team.”